Cessna 150 accident near Papillion, Nebraska, March 26, 1989
On March 26, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3832J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Papillion, Nebraska (South Omaha airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL SCREEN BY FOREIGN MATTER AND OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Papillion, Nebraska · South Omaha · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3832J · no longer on the register · serial 150-65132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT SAID HE WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LDGS. DURING A TAKEOFF THE ENGINE HESITATED, SO HE ABORTED THE T.O. AND RE-LANDED ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. AFTER TAXIING BACK, HE RAN THE ENGINE UP AND CHECKED AND CONFIRMED NORMAL OPERATION. HE THEN TOOK OFF AND AFTER ATTAINING ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY, RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH A TERRACE AND NOSING OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND ENGINE RUNUP REVEALED FOREIGN MATTER IN THE CARBURETOR FINGER SCREEN. THE ACFT HAD BEEN INACTIVE OVER AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE PURCHASE BY THE PRESENT OWNER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 74NE Papillion NE at 6:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from OFF, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3832J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.